Facebook bragger? Do it with class

Mom did everything with class. Even her holiday letter, which boasted of dad's promotion, the kids' athletic prowess or the family's fabulous African safari, was done with sincerity, even deprecation. You know, the humble brag: "We're so busy that this is the first chance I've had to write."

It's not that way anymore. We practically live our lives in public forums, so it is perfectly normal to post about the new $200 bikini you bought for your upcoming trip to paradise with your perfect boyfriend before you've had your morning coffee.

You're not trying to brag, but it can come across that way. Etiquette expert Daniel Post Senning of the Emily Post Institute calls it the "overly excited social media posting," and, in some ways, he says, it has replaced the holiday letter as a vessel for boasting. But because Facebook is daily -- even hourly -- proper etiquette is a must.

"If you think of social media as expanded conversation, you want to consider dosage, context and appropriateness when it comes to sharing," says Post Senning, who is the great-great-grandson of Emily Post and author of "Emily Post's Manners in a Digital World: Living Well Online" (Open Road Media, 2013). "Keep posts about personal subjects, like family and finance, to private groups where you have some awareness of the audience."

Are you ready to reform your boastful ways? Or maybe you always rein yourself in but know someone who doesn't. We asked Post Senning to give us classy alternatives to five common (and often tacky) Facebook brags.

Your oh-so-amazing kids

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Tacky: Every loose tooth. Every cupcake. Every photo with one of those seventh-place certificates. Every time the center of your universe kicks a ball, makes a funny face or ingests food, you find yourself compelled to post an update or photo.

Classy: "The important thing to remember here is dosage," Post Senning says. "Think about the volume of the information you're sharing, because kids are so often the center of our world but maybe not everyone else's. Try sharing every 10th video or update publicly, and save the rest for private groups with grandma."

The body selfie

Tacky: Just like traffic and your bagel, posting photos of yourself with a come-hither look or a new haircut (OK, half-inch trim) has become routine. Or, perhaps you're the dude who needs to see if his bicep flex is getting bigger. How can you find out without a classic muscle shot?

Classy: "This one is all about context," Post Senning says. "Maybe you belong to a physical fitness group on Facebook, and they know you're trying to add inches or lose weight." If that's not the case, keep all body image and clothing posts to a limit. Here's one that works: "Hey everyone, just purchased my first suit for a job interview," he says. "What do you think?"

Ode to spouse

Tacky: "Thank you, so-and-so, for being the rock of my life and the most beautiful wife and mother in the world. You lifted me up when I was in a bad place, and I thank (insert deity) for you everyday and love you with all of my heart and soul. I am the luckiest man on the planet to be married to you."

Classy: One acronym: TMI. "Offer compliments that aren't necessarily comparative but rather substantive, and keep it brief," Post Senning says. "Acknowledge the actions that people take, not how they look, like, 'Today, I want to acknowledge my wife because she takes such good care of me and our kids.' "

Vacation photos

Tacky: Every museum, baguette, cafe au lait and corner in Paris is breathtaking and Facebook-worthy. Surely you need to share every beret-wearing moment with your friends, since no one has seen pictures of the Eiffel Tower before, right?

Classy: "This is a tricky one," Post Senning says. "When the trip itself starts to become a signifier of wealth, you can get into inappropriate territory. Instead, think to yourself, 'Do I really need to post photos of the gold-plated faucets in my five-star hotel?' " Maybe stick to funny moments or picturesque landscapes.

Job, promotion

Tacky: "I think I need to hire an assistant because ever since I got my awesome (read: seven-figure salary) new job, I have no time to go shopping or get to the spa. I think I need a personal chef!"

Classy: A tenet of good etiquette is sincerity, Post Senning says. Remember, others in your circle may be struggling at work or without work at all. That said, don't undermine your pride.

"If your attempt is to address something you're genuinely proud of, you don't want to be too self-deprecating," he says. "My cousin recently posted an announcement about a new job and I loved it. He said something like, 'I'm so pumped to announce that I've recently joined the team at such-and-such. I'm so thrilled about this opportunity and couldn't have hoped for better mentors.' "